Bruce felt the world stop. His heart skipped a beat before deciding to drop into his stomach. "What?" he breathed out, blue eyes wide. Chloe's pregnant. The words ran through his mind. Alfred saw him turn pale and sat him down. The Doctor placed a hand on his shoulder. "Mr. Wayne are you ok?" Am I ok? His mind was blank and he stared stupidly at the hospital floor. He snapped out of it and looked at Jimmy. "It's mine." He said. The photographer nodded, "She was suppose to tell you." Anger got the best of him, "She should have told me as soon as she found out."
"Is the baby ok?" he asked the Doctor.
"Yes, luckily she's out of her first trimester which is the most dangerous time in the pregnancy." He told Bruce.
"How far along is she?"
"Let's see here" the Doctor scanned his clipboard "About 12 weeks"
Chloe was 3 months pregnant and she hadn't said a word about it. Anger flooded his once blank mind. Even though they weren't together she had no right to hide this from him. Last time he checked it took two to tango. His mind couldn't imagine a life with a child at his side. It never occurred to him that he would marry and raise a family. He hadn't thought about it since Chloe had left him. Jimmy and Alfred talked to the Doctor while he tried to calm down. Since Chloe wasn't awake yet, she wouldn't be able to have any visitors until tomorrow. Jimmy sat down besides him and sighed.
"She told me she didn't need anything from me." Bruce paused he was hurt "I love her Jimmy. I need her."
"Master Bruce the doctor suggests we go home and rest. We can come back tomorrow and see her … if she wants visitors." Alfred gently urged both men into the car. They drove home in silence. Bruce did something he hadn't done since he was a child. He prayed that Chloe would give him a second chance.
--
Chloe woke up at the sound of a door. Images of Bruce and her arguing flashed in her mind, and then a blur of sounds and faces. In panic she placed her hands protectively on her stomach. It's okay she let out a sigh of relief. It was early in the morning according to the clock mounted on the pink purple wall. The door opened a crack and an old woman dressed in a nurse's uniform smiled at her. "Ms. Sullivan your awake!" she seemed relieved. "Morning." Chloe replied. Her stomach growled and the nurse laughed.
"I bet that baby of yours has worked up an appetite after all that commotion. Don't worry I'll go get your breakfast." Before Chloe could ask any questions the woman disappeared out the door.
--
Bruce got into the car and Alfred drove to the hospital. He hadn't gone out that night to protect Gotham. He was far busier thinking about Chloe and the baby. Jimmy was meeting them at the hospital. They had called him as soon as Chloe had woken up. Alfred parked the car and they walked to the lobby where Jimmy was sitting. The photographer was dressed in the same clothes although they were wrinkled showing he had been tossing and turning in his sleep. His eyes were full of worry and he held a cup of coffee in his hand, Bruce knew it was cold. "She's awake." He informed them.
"Master Wayne we should get some breakfast before seeing her." Alfred offered. Bruce nodded and Jimmy followed him to the cafeteria. The 3 men were quiet munching absently on toast and pancakes. Bruce looked up at Jimmy. "Did you tell Clark and Lois what happened?" Jimmy nodded, "I had to when they called her hotel room and she didn't pick up they panicked and called me." "How did they take it?" Bruce asked.
"Lois…was worried for the baby and Clark…well you know how sensitive he is about Chloe and you two never really got along. He's furious Bruce. I talked him out of flying down here to Gotham and Lois said she'd make sure to keep him here. I also called Perry and explained what happened he wants Chloe flying back to Metropolis as soon as possible. He already booked a flight for me tomorrow night."
Bruce frowned he needed time alone with Chloe. He would have to convince her to come stay with him they needed to make plans about the child. "We should head up to her room now"
--
The doctor explained to Chloe what had happened. "Do you have any questions Ms. Sullivan?" She looked at the older man he was kind and gentle. "I'd like to know when I can check out of the hospital?" she asked him. "Today if you wish. Now you have visitors waiting." He glanced at his clipboard, "Jimmy, Alfred and Mr. Wayne" She bit down on her lip and fiddled with the blanket. If she saw Bruce then he would …she blinked. He would what? Cry? Scream? "Ms. Sullivan if you don't want to see any of them I can inform them that you still are not well. Or I can have security escort them out." Offered her doctor. She smiled at the mental image of Bruce fighting off the two chunky guards.
"No I want to see Bruce," she said quietly.
"I have to warn you against putting yourself in a stressful situation. You were lucky this time…next time your luck could run out." With that the Doctor exited the room.
She leaned against her pillow and waited for him to appear. The door opened a few minutes later and Bruce locked eyes with her. Suddenly the room got very hot. He closed the door, and sat in the chair next to her bed. The air was crackling with energy. She forced herself to calm down. "Chloe" he whispered her name tenderly. "Bruce" she replied numb. His very presence made her dizzy. "Why didn't you tell me that you were pregnant?" he asked masking the hurt. She looked away, "I didn't want to."
--
"I wanted to know Chloe. I never wanted you to leave…didn't want it to end up how it did. I still love you Chloe can't you see? Look at me" he whispered standing up and cupping her face in his hands. He knew he was being to forward but he didn't care…he refused to lose her again.
"You hurt me…you lied to me" she said, voice shaking.
"I didn't mean too. I wanted to protect you …from them. From the Joker and all the other maniacs I fight every night. If they ever found out about me they'd go after you. I won't let them touch you or the baby," he said. He watched her.
"Bruce. Batman. Who are you? You can't be both," she said sobbing. "I can't do it, I can't lay in your bed every night knowing you might not be there when I wake up. What if something happens? What then Bruce?" She was crying.
He let her collapse on his chest and cry. Her hands clung to his jacket anchoring her. He stayed quiet and smoothed her hair.
"We'll deal with it when it comes Chloe. I know that fear you have will be there but I can't stop what I'm doing for Gotham. It's my city…I need to take care of it."
She hiccupped and pulled away, "What about me?"
He held her hand and kissed it, "I'll take care of you too and the baby."
For the first time in a long time, Chloe felt happiness warm every inch of her body. The walls of hatred and anger she had built collapsed. Even the baby must have felt it, because at that moment it decided to kick. "Bruce!" she exclaimed. "What? What's wrong?" he asked, glancing at the heart monitors and back at her. "Feel" she said, taking his hand and placing it on her stomach. He felt a slight thump under his hand and looked up at Chloe shocked.